2008 Bellevue (Saint Emilion)

Savoury and racy on the nose but sickly on the palate. Thick and sweet and really rather overdone. Not refreshing enough though the fruit was certainly ripe! (JR)

The 2008 has completely shut down, no doubt because of its striking minerality. Coming in at 14.5% natural alcohol and cropped at 21 hectoliters per hectare, it is extremely concentrated, tannic and broodingly backward. On each of the three occasions I tasted it the wine was difficult to penetrate because of its tannic structure. Nevertheless, there is plenty of weight, purity, texture and length. This 2008 is only for patient connoisseurs who are willing to give it 7-8 years of bottle age. It should last for 25+ years and may possibly eclipse the 2010.

Very dark crimson. Rich and ripe and concentrated on the nose. Then some slight oak and acidity. Fresh and zappy and certainly no shortage of ripeness and alcohol even if a little aggressive. A bit drying on the end. (JR)